Fall TV

[jamesp]

Sure there's a lot of crap returning to TV this fall and lots of new shows that look awful, but what are the new (and old) shows you're looking forward to?

Aside from the new HBO shows (True Blood, Little Britian USA, The Life and Times of Tim, and Summer Heights High), the only new show I'm sort of interested in is Life on Mars. The new cast sounds good and I love the pictures I've seen of Michael Imperioli in 70s costumes. I'm also excited for all the new comedy specials (Chris Rock, Louis CK, Ricky Gervais).

I can't wait for It's Always Sunny, Simpsons, and 30 Rock. I never followed Dexter, Pushing Daisies, or Brotherhood but maybe I'll catch up in time for their new seasons (Anybody think they're worth it?)

[Beth]

I'm pumped for the new season of Lost. Otherwise, I've pretty much given up on TV. What are all those HBO show's you listed? I don't have cable, so I watch T.V. via internet. Good stuff?

I wouldn't recommend Dexter. It makes me feel dark and icky inside, and it's not very well written.

[Omar]

Avoid True Blood at all costs.  It's the new Alan Ball show!  It appears that this atrocity is a 9th-rate Buffy filled with more of his dull, leaden metaphors.  SPOILER: The vampires are stand-ins for gays and other minorities.

(I pretty much like the first 3 seasons of Six Feet Under, especially season 3, and portions of the wildly uneven final two; Ball's episodes were generally the worst of the series.  His Oldzonareveren-fueled final montage was perhaps the worst sequence ever filmed: atrocious makeup effects soundtracked by some hideous song that was probably wrangled from the One Tree Hill music supervisor.  He's a dolt.)

As Beth said, Dexter is actually really bad in a lot of ways, but Michael C. Hall is superb and makes it worth watching.

[Denim Gremlin]

yeah I'm pretty much with you guys,

it's always sunny, 30 rock and lost are pretty much the only shows I'm waiting for.

there's one's I'm sure I'll watch, the office, house, how i met your mother. but those arn't really one's I'm really anticipating.

and my other favorites like venture brothers, mad men, and project runway have already started or ended this summer.

It's really annoying though that i have to wait until the end of october for 30 rock and who knows when, like february or something, for Lost.

what happened to starting in the fall?

[jamesp]

I forgot about Lost. I still need to finish Season 4, but I hope to get around to it.

Here are descriptions of the new HBO shows:

True Blood -- as Omar said, it's the Alan Ball vampire show. I'm not too interested in it but I usually watch the pilot for all the HBO shows at least. I actually saw an advanced screening of Towelhead and Ball was in attendance. I though the movie blew but everybody in the audience loved how shocking it was.

Little Britain USA - It's a US adaption of the British comedy series "Little Britain." It's kind of the same deal that HBO had when they brought Da Ali G Show here.

The Life & Times of Tim -- It's an animated series. Here's the synopsis from HBO: "Everybody makes mistakes, but for Tim - a self-conscious young guy living in New York - just getting out of bed in the morning could be the worst decision he makes all day. No matter the situation, life's little challenges always manage to demand the most offensive solutions, which wouldn't be such a problem if he weren't continually caught red-handed. From the mind of Steve Dildarian - the Clio-winning ad man behind Budweiser's famous 'Lizards' campaign - 'The Life and Times of Tim' follows this everyday working guy from one scandalous crisis to the next."

Summer Heights High - An Australian import. The show is a mockumentary about high school life.

I'm not that excited for any of them but maybe they'll surprise me. I'm still waiting for HBO to air East Bound and Down, the Danny McBride comedy series. I saw the pilot and it was incredible.

[yesno]

Summer Heights High is very very funny.

Dexter season 1 is good.

[buffcoat]

Summer Heights High is very very funny.

Dexter season 1 is good.

I like Dexter.  Fun TV.

I really like USA's detective stuff.  Burn Notice, The Tony Shalhoub Variety Hour, In Plain Sight, Psych.  I don't care who knows it.

[Susannah]

Little Britain USA - It's a US adaption of the British comedy series "Little Britain." It's kind of the same deal that HBO had when they brought Da Ali G Show here.

I don't really get how this is going to work.  Are Lou and Andy going to be the same, but just Americans?  What about Sebastian and his secret love for the prime minister?  Are they going to turn Vicky Pollard from being chav to being a hick?  I don't know about this, and also, "Little Britain" isn't even that funny.

I have similar misgivings about the Americanized version of "Kath and Kim." 

[jamesp]

Little Britain USA - It's a US adaption of the British comedy series "Little Britain." It's kind of the same deal that HBO had when they brought Da Ali G Show here.

I don't really get how this is going to work.  Are Lou and Andy going to be the same, but just Americans?  What about Sebastian and his secret love for the prime minister?  Are they going to turn Vicky Pollard from being chav to being a hick?  I don't know about this, and also, "Little Britain" isn't even that funny.

I have similar misgivings about the Americanized version of "Kath and Kim." 

Yeah, I watched it a few times of BBC America and never really laughed. There's quite a few Britcoms I'm still behind on, but Little Britain and The League of Gentlemen were two that I gave up on.

[ughwhy]

I'm the sucker who is going to watch "Fringe."

I'm also looking forward to "Life on Mars," reshot pilot and all. I like supernatural crap. It pleases me. Thank you, television, for bringing me more of it.

[Gilly]

Anything new on network TV that looks interesting?

[Jouster]

I'm still waiting for HBO to air East Bound and Down, the Danny McBride comedy series. I saw the pilot and it was incredible.

Early '09 at the earliest.  Production on the season began sometime within the past few weeks, so it's gonna be a bit.  I'm guessing they'll pair it with Flight of the Conchords, when that show returns.

[samir]

I don't know about this, and also, "Little Britain" isn't even that funny.

Agreed. I'm stunned that they got three (maybe more?) series out of it, before re-adapting it for the U.S.

[Sarah]

I watch approximately 67,000 hours of television a day.  I can't afford to be too discriminating.  I will, however, shun most crime dramas and reality shows and many sit coms.

[jamesp]

I'm still waiting for HBO to air East Bound and Down, the Danny McBride comedy series. I saw the pilot and it was incredible.

Early '09 at the earliest.  Production on the season began sometime within the past few weeks, so it's gonna be a bit.  I'm guessing they'll pair it with Flight of the Conchords, when that show returns.

I thought I heard Conchords is going to take a long time. I remember an interview where the band said they used like 99% of their songs for the show, so before they even start writing a new season, they want to have new songs ready. Personally, I don't like the songs on the show and think it'd be fine without them.